Catalytic converter filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an apparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a catalyst material from beneath an automobile, with the converter being mounted in the exhaust system of the automobile. The same apparatus can be used to empty the catalyst material from the converter.

Unlted States Patent Mayfleldl Feb. 11, 1975 1 CATALYTIC CONVERTERFILLING [56] References Cited APPARATUS UNITED STATES PATENTS [75]Inventor: Albert H. Mayfield, Lennon, Mich. 3,184,291 5/1965 Calvert141/67 [73] Assign General oto s Co po 3,295,565 1/1967 Grundy 141/67Demm Mlch' Primary ExaminerHoust0n 5. Bell, Jr. [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Peter A. Taucher [21] Appl. No.: 420,969ABSTRACT This invention provides an apparatus for filling a cata- [52]US. Cl 141/67, 141/77, 141/340, lytic converter with a catalyst materialfrom beneath 141/369 141/387 23/288 222/193 an automobile, with theconverter being mounted in [51] Int. Cl 1365b 3 1/00, 1365b 1/26 theexhaust System of the automobile The same appa [58] held of Search23/288 141/12 ratus can be used to empty the catalyst material from141/71-80, 5, 8, 65, 66, 84, 93, 39263232318973, the converter.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBHIQYB 4 3.865.159

SHEET 10$ 2 PATENTED 3,865,159

SHEET 20$ 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTER FILLING APPARATUS Periodic maintenanceof catalytic converters will be necessary, since the catalyst materialused in such converters will have to be changed on a periodic basis orif it wears out, or if the catalyst is not functioning properly. Suchchanges should be routinely made at any local gasoline service stationby one person, with a minimum of effort from underneath the automobilewith the converter installed in the exhaust system.

Prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,184,291 and 3,295,565 disclose apparatus forfilling exhaust gas purifiers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,291 shows anapparatus located above the purifier to provide a gravity feed of acatalyst to the purifier, and which also draws air through the catalystfilled hopper to fluidize the catalyst to aid in the feed of thecatalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,565 uses a venturi type inspiratoradjacent the bottom of a catalyst feed hopper located above a purifier,to fluidize the catalyst flowing from the hopper.

Applicants invention is a compact catalytic converter fill apparatusthat can be routinely used in any local gasoline service station andeasily mounted on the converter to fill the converter from underneath anautomobile. The fill apparatus includes an unobstructed fill pipe thatis positioned at one end on a catalyst container while the other endfits into a converter fill hole, wherein the catalyst material is pulledupwardly through the fill pipe and into the converter against theeffects of gravity and without air passing through the catalyst materialin the container.

Accordingly, the advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the preferred em bodiment shownmounted on the converter in the fill position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged close-up partial sectional view of the preferredembodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged close-up partial sectional view of a secondembodiment of the invention in position to empty the converter.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged close-up partial sectional view of a secondembodiment of the invention in position to fill the converter.

Referring to the drawings the filling apparatus includes a clamp 10positioned on converter 12 with the converter being mounted in theexhaust system 13 of automobile 15 shown on a hoist and having thepreferred embodiment of the filling apparatus in place to fill theconverter. As best shown in FIG. 4, clamp 10 comprises a stationaryupright arm 16 that is attached in an upright position by welding to abottom plate 18. Upright arm 16 is generally L-shaped and is con.-structed so that it hooks over and rests on the top of seam weld 14.Plate 18 fits under and extends completely across the bottom of theconverter and beyond both sides of the converter to hold arm 16 atoneend and an over-center toggle clamp 20 at the opposite end.

Toggle clamp 20 has an adjustable positioning arm 22 mounted thereon,that fits over the center seam weld 14 in the same manner as arm 16.Arms 16 and 22 are tightened against the seam weld, by the overcentertoggle clamp 20. Clamp l0 mounts a vibrator 24 and acontainer securingmember 26 on the bottom of the converter with one end of the securingmember 26 being held adjacent the converter fill hole.

Vibrator 24 mounted to the bottom plate 18 is used to vibrate theconverter during filling, while container securing member 26 whichincludes a movable arm 28, held against bottom plate 18 by spring 29, isused to retain and position the catalyst container. Spring 29 is heldagainst movable arm 28 by a spring retainer plate 30 and a bolt 32.

Movable arm 28 on securing member 26, best shown in FIG. 3, is slottedat one end as at 34 and includes a handle 36 to pull the movable armdownward away from the bottom of the converter against the force ofspring 29, to allow the fill pipe 42 in the catalyst container 38 to beplaced in the slot 34 to secure and position the container adjacent toand within the converter fill hole 56 during filling.

Container 38 is generally circular in shape at its top portion andterminates in a funnel shaped end 40 having a fill pipe 42 positionedwithin the bottom of the funnel shaped end. The end of the fill pipelocated in the funnel shaped end of the container is closed by a screen44 to prevent the catalyst material from falling out of the end as thecatalyst is admitted into the fill pipe through opening 46. The otherend of the fill pipe is open and extends above the container and has acollar 48 adjacent the end of the fill pipe. The fill pipe 42 fits intoslot 34, while the collar 48 is located above the slot 34, to secure thefill pipe in a locked position within the converter. Container 38includes a plurality of equally spaced handles 50 that are used to gripthe container when placing it in position in slot 34 or which can beused as legs, to set the container on when not in use.

When the catalytic material in the converter is to be replaced, themovable plate 28 is moved away from the converter by handle 36, and fillpipe 42 is placed within slot 34 and into the fill hole 56 and thehandle released to secure the end of the fill pipe in the fill hole, bycollar 38 being securely held between the converter and movable plate28.

In operation, the catalytic material is placed in container 38 prior tothe container being positioned on the converter. When the container ispositioned as previously described, the aspirator 52 attached to theexhaust system by a pipe means 54 is turned on, to create a suction inthe exhaust system and through the fill pipe. The suction pulls thecatalyst material through the opening 46 in fill pipe 42 up through thefill pipe and into the converter 12. During the filling period, vibrator24 is turned on, to assure complete compacting and filling, becauseifthe converter is not completely filled, the catalyst material willwear out prematurely due to a rubbing action caused by the looseness ofthe catalyst material. After the converter is completely full, thecontainer is removed and the fill plug replaced in fill hole 56, and theaspirator turned off.

To empty the converter, the vibrator is turned on. and the container 38is attached to member 26, with the fill pipe located to one side of thefill hole, to catch the catalyst material as it flows out of theconverter. As an alternative, the fill pipe can be made removable andreplaced by a plug in the bottom of the container to prevent spillingor, if desired, any type container or bucket having a handle means couldbe positionedon clamp 26 or could be hand held below the fill opening.

Since the catalyst retainer slopes toward the fill hole, the catalystwill flow from the converter without any assistance other than from thevibrator, therefore the vibrator should be used to empty the converter.The catalyst material used will not readily flow out of the converterbecause of its make up, without the use of the vibrator. If it isdesired to further speed up the emptying operation, the automobile canbe tilted forward on the hoist, to provide additional slope to thecatalyst retainer.

A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and includes a catalystcontainer 70 generally circular in shape at the top portion andterminates in a funnel shape section at the bottom portion. Fill pipe 72is at tached at the side of the container 70 and is open at the topadjacent the top of the container and also at the opposite end that isadapted to fit into the fill hole 77. Fill pipe 72 also has an openingat 75 to allow the catalyst material within container 70 to flow intothe fill pipe. Hangers 74 are used to hold the container and fill pipein position on the exhaust system 13 of the automobile. As in the firstembodiment, a vibrator 76 is used to vibrate and compact the catalystmaterial during filling.

As shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus is being used to empty the converterwith the container being positioned under fill hole 77 by hangers 74.The catalyst material flows from the converter into the container asdescribed in the preferred embodiment. Hangers 74 are attached to thecontainer at one end and to a collar 79 on the fill pipe at the otherend.

As shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus is being used to fill the converterand in this position, an extension of the fill pipe is pulled out of theend of the fill pipe in order to make the fill pipe long enough to bepositioned in the converter, and is in turn inserted into the catalystfill hole 77. During the filling operation, only one hanger 74 is usedon the container since the insert 78 is a press fit into the fill holeand will therefore hold the fill pipe stationary in the converter.However, if desired some additional holding means could be used at theend adjacent the fill hole or a threaded connector that mates with thethreaded fill pipe could be used along with a locking collar to hold thethreaded connector in locked position. The filling operation is the sameas described in the preferred embodiment whereby the aspirator is turnedon to create a suction in the exhaust system and through the open pipe72 to cause the catalyst material to be sucked through the fill pipe andinto the converter. As is readily apparent the apparatus shown in FIGS.5 and 6 is the same apparatus, but reversed on filling and emptying.

As shown and described, the invention is a simple, compact apparatusthat can be easily used by one person and easily adapted for use at anygasoline service station to empty and fill catalyst materials that willneed to be replaced from time to time in the converter. The apparatus ismounted beneath the converter so as to make filling and emptying of theconverter easier, due to ready access of the converter and the workarea.

While the embodiments of the invention as herein disclosed constitute apreferred form, it is to be understood that other forms could beadopted.

I claim:

I. An apparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a catalystmaterial while the converter is mounted in an automobile exhaust systemcomprising: a container to hold the catalyst material, said containeradapted to be suspended beneath the converter mounted in the automobileexhaust system, an unobstructed fill pipe attached to said container andhaving an opening therein to permit the catalyst material to flow fromsaid container through the opening and into said fill pipe, means toprevent the catalyst material from spilling out of said fill pipe afterpassing through the opening in the fill pipe, suspension means to holdsaid fill pipe and container beneath the converter and within a fillopening in the bottom of the converter while the converter is beingfilled, an aspirator adapted to be connected to the exhaust system tocreate a suction through the exhaust system, the fill pipe, andconverter to carry the catalytic material from said container upwardlyagainst the force of gravity through the fill pipe and into theconverter with the aspirated air being drawn through said fill pipewithout being drawn through the catalyst material in the container, anda vibrator adapted to be attached to said converter to vibrate theconverter as it is being filled to assure the catalytic material iscompacted and the converter completely filled.

2. An apparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a catalystmaterial while the converter is mounted in an automobile exhaust systemcomprising: a container to hold the catalyst material said containeradapted to be suspended beneath the converter and having an enlargedupper portion that tapers into a funnel shaped lower portion thatterminates in a circular opening, a fill pipe positioned within saidcontainer having one end attached to the interior of the circularopening in said funnel shaped lower portion with the other end extendingabove said container, said fill pipe having an opening therein above thecircular opening in said funnel shaped lower portion to allow thecatalyst material to flow from said container through the opening andinto said fill pipe, perforate means that closes off the fill pipe atthe one end to prevent the catalyst material from spilling out of saidfill pipe, a retaining member attached to said converter by anadjustable clamp, said retaining member having a slotted end thereon toreceive the other end of the fill pipe within the slotted end and whichfill pipe fits into a fill hole on the converter, a collar secured onthe other end of said fill pipe above the slotted end that is heldagainst the converter adjacent the fill opening to securely hold thefill pipe in the fill hole and the container beneath the converter, anaspirator adapted to be connected to the exhaust system to create asuction through the exhaust system, the converter, and the fill pipe tocarry the catalyst material upward against the force of gravity throughthe fill pipe and into the converter from said container with theaspirated air being drawn through said fill pipe without being drawnthrough the catalyst material in the container, and a vibrator adaptedto be attached to said adjustable clamp on said converter whereby thevibrator is used to vibrate the converter during filling to assurecomplete filling and compacting of the catalyst mate rial.

3. An apparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a catalystmaterial while the converter is mounted in an automobile exhaust systemcomprising: a container to hold the catalyst material having an enlargedupper portion that tapers into a funnel shaped lower portion and whichterminates in an opening in the lower portion, a fill pipe having oneend secured to the exterior of said container along the outside of theenlarged upper portion and also to the funnel shaped lower portion, saidfill pipe having an opening therein in alignment with said opening inthe lower portion of said container to allow the catalyst material toflow from said container into said fill pipe, means to secure saidcontainer and fill pipe to the exhaust system beneath the converter withthe end of the fill pipe not secured to said container being inserted ina fill hole on the converter, an aspirator adapted to be connected tothe exhaust system to create a suction through the exhaust andcompacting of the catalytic material.

1. An apparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a catalystmaterial while the converter is mounted in an automobile exhaust systemcomprising: a container to hold the catalyst material, said containeradapted to be suspended beneath the converter mounted in the automobileexhaust system, an unobstructed fill pipe attached to said container andhaving an opening therein to permit the catalyst material to flow fromsaid container through the opening and into said fill pipe, means toprevent the catalyst material from spilling out of said fill pipe afterpassing through the opening in the fill pipe, suspension means to holdsaid fill pipe and container beneath the converter and within a fillopening in the bottom of the converter while the converter is beingfilled, an aspirator adapted to be connected to the exhaust system tocreate a suction through the exhaust system, the fill pipe, andconverter to carry the catalytic maTerial from said container upwardlyagainst the force of gravity through the fill pipe and into theconverter with the aspirated air being drawn through said fill pipewithout being drawn through the catalyst material in the container, anda vibrator adapted to be attached to said converter to vibrate theconverter as it is being filled to assure the catalytic material iscompacted and the converter completely filled.
 2. An apparatus forfilling a catalytic converter with a catalyst material while theconverter is mounted in an automobile exhaust system comprising: acontainer to hold the catalyst material said container adapted to besuspended beneath the converter and having an enlarged upper portionthat tapers into a funnel shaped lower portion that terminates in acircular opening, a fill pipe positioned within said container havingone end attached to the interior of the circular opening in said funnelshaped lower portion with the other end extending above said container,said fill pipe having an opening therein above the circular opening insaid funnel shaped lower portion to allow the catalyst material to flowfrom said container through the opening and into said fill pipe,perforate means that closes off the fill pipe at the one end to preventthe catalyst material from spilling out of said fill pipe, a retainingmember attached to said converter by an adjustable clamp, said retainingmember having a slotted end thereon to receive the other end of the fillpipe within the slotted end and which fill pipe fits into a fill hole onthe converter, a collar secured on the other end of said fill pipe abovethe slotted end that is held against the converter adjacent the fillopening to securely hold the fill pipe in the fill hole and thecontainer beneath the converter, an aspirator adapted to be connected tothe exhaust system to create a suction through the exhaust system, theconverter, and the fill pipe to carry the catalyst material upwardagainst the force of gravity through the fill pipe and into theconverter from said container with the aspirated air being drawn throughsaid fill pipe without being drawn through the catalyst material in thecontainer, and a vibrator adapted to be attached to said adjustableclamp on said converter whereby the vibrator is used to vibrate theconverter during filling to assure complete filling and compacting ofthe catalyst material.
 3. An apparatus for filling a catalytic converterwith a catalyst material while the converter is mounted in an automobileexhaust system comprising: a container to hold the catalyst materialhaving an enlarged upper portion that tapers into a funnel shaped lowerportion and which terminates in an opening in the lower portion, a fillpipe having one end secured to the exterior of said container along theoutside of the enlarged upper portion and also to the funnel shapedlower portion, said fill pipe having an opening therein in alignmentwith said opening in the lower portion of said container to allow thecatalyst material to flow from said container into said fill pipe, meansto secure said container and fill pipe to the exhaust system beneath theconverter with the end of the fill pipe not secured to said containerbeing inserted in a fill hole on the converter, an aspirator adapted tobe connected to the exhaust system to create a suction through theexhaust system, the converter, and fill pipe to draw the catalystmaterial upward against the effect of gravity through the fill pipe andinto the converter from said container with the aspirated air beingdrawn through said fill pipe without being drawn through the catalystmaterial in the container, and a vibrator adapted to be attached to saidconverter whereby the vibrator is used to vibrate the converter duringfilling to assure complete filling and compacting of the catalyticmaterial.